Punjab Kings’ IPL 2026 campaign has reached a critical breaking point, with the franchise now on the brink of elimination after a sixth consecutive defeat, this time against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.The loss in Dharamshala not only dented their playoff hopes but also left head coach Ricky Ponting visibly dejected. As the match ended, Ponting was seen sitting alone in the Punjab Kings dugout, staring out in silence at the scenic backdrop — a moment that quickly went viral and was described as a “powerful picture” by former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin.Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, said the image captured the emotional weight of Punjab’s collapse in form. While expressing sympathy for both Ponting and skipper Shreyas Iyer, he also pointed to deeper structural issues within the franchise.“I saw a powerful picture on TV after the match today. Ricky Ponting was leaning forward in the dugout, all alone. He must have a lot going on inside his head. They were in the prime position to run away and take the top two spot in this tournament. I think they must be asking themselves where they went wrong. I sat on the same chair in 2018. I am not defending them, but I said in the last episode as well, the three or four champion teams don’t play at different home venues. You were winning in Mullanpur continuously, then you went to Dharamshala and you lost three consecutive home games,” he said.Ashwin further expanded on his criticism, questioning Punjab Kings’ decision to split home games between Mullanpur and Dharamshala, arguing that it has disrupted rhythm and familiarity.“These are young players, and even foreign players are struggling. There’s a big difference between Mullanpur and Dharamshala when it comes to pace and bounce. The soil is the same but the altitude is different. This is also an away game for Punjab. If they had won even one of these home games, they would’ve been smiling right now,” he said.“They defended 220 in Mullanpur against SRH because they know the wicket that well. They practised at the venue even before the IPL started. Making pitches is one thing, but getting yourself accustomed to the conditions is different. It’s quite disappointing. I feel sad for Punjab. You shouldn’t leave your home ground. If it makes business sense, let it only make business sense, but if you want to win and qualify, you can’t afford to make these mistakes. Ricky Ponting will be distraught, Shreyas Iyer will be too, but it is incredibly hard,” Ashwin further added.With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, Punjab Kings now head into a must-win final league match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
